Seam opener



H. E. PAGE sEAM OPENER June 28 1927.

Filed March 16, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet June 28 1927.

H. E. PAGE SEAM OPENER Filed March 16, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 um WJ.

H. E. PAGE SEAM OPENER June v28 1927.

Filed March 16, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v m hr WV L? A v June 28, 1927.

H. E. PAGE SEAM OPENER 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 16 Patented June `als, i927.

UNITED STATES 1,634,205 PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT E. PAGE, F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES HOFF- MAN MACHINERY CORPORATION, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

SEAM OPENER.

Application led March 16, 1925. Serial No. 16,002.'

This invention pertains to seam openers and pressers and has for its main object the production of a machine wherein seams of garments may be quickly spread or opened and eectively pressed and this without in the least stretching the seam. I am aware that various seam openers have heretofore been devised, but so far as I am aware, no

structure has been produced which will satio isfactorily open land press a seam without stretching or distorting the same. The machine hereinafter set forth in detail has been found eliicient in that seams opened and pressed thereby are found to be correctly and evenly opened and likewise satisfactorily pressed.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a. side elevation of the structure; Fig. 2 a horizontal section taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3` a top plan view, partly broken y away, showin the upper run of the upper belt employed in conjunction with other parts to draw the goods' inwardly between the pressing elements;

Fig. 4 a longitudinal sectional view of the structure;

Fig. 5 a transverse sectional view taken on the line V-V and looking toward the rear of the machine;

Fi 6 a vertical sectional view taken onl the line'VI-VI and illustrative of the stop mechanism employed in conjunction with the means for raising and lowering the movable buck; Y

Fig. 7 a horizontal section taken on the line VII--VII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 a side elevation of a portion of the operating mechanism with a modified form of control;

Fig. 9 a plan view thereof; and

Fig. 10 a vertical sectional View on the line X-X of Fig. 8.

Broadly stated, the machine may be said to embody a head; a buck; said members being movable relative to each other into and out of pressing relation; apair of conveyor belts, one movable with reference to each of said pressing elements and movable together to carry the seam to be pressed inwardly between the pressing elements; and means for moving the pressing elements into engagement with each other when the seam s properly positioned! I n addition to these Cil features, the mechanism involves means for adjusting one of the belts toward and from the other to accommodate seams of different thicknesses as they are entered between the pressing elements; means for opening the seam as it is drawn inwardly between the pressing elements; and means for carrying the movable pressing element into pressing relation with the other element, bringing it to rest in such pressing relation; and means for retracting the same when the press has been maintained in its closed position for a sufficiently long period.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 to 7, 1 denotes the base of the machine, extending upwardly from which are four posts or columns 2, 3, 4 and 5, which form the support for the fixed head denoted generally by 6. The head is secured and held upon said columns by cross bais 7 which are bolted to upwardly extending brackets or loop-sliaped members S and 9 formed as an integral portion of the head casting. The head is chambered (see Fig. 5) as at 10, and steam is admitted to said chamber to keep'- the head heated at all times. The head on its under face is provided with a foraminous plate 11, which overlies the recessed portion 12 which is in communication with a steam conduit 13, which conduit in turn is in communication with a valve 14 (Fig. 5). Said valve Figure 4 is periodically opened through a link 14a connected to a bell crank 14", a link 14, which latter is attached to a lever 14d, the lever, at its upper end, carrying a roller 14 that contacts a cam 14t mounted upon a shaft 94 later referred to. The cam is so positioned that steam is allowed to pass momentarily through the foraminous plate 11 just prior to the pressing operation.

Extending longitudinally about the head is a conveyor belt 15, the be'lt at the rear passing about a pulley 16, and in its upper run about a belt tightener denoted generally by 17, thence forwardly about a pulley 18, thence rearwardly beneath the foraminous plate over a small pulley 19 to the pulley 16. The pulley 19 takes against the outer face of the belt and is carried by an adjustable bracket 20 so that the belt may be raised or lowered at this point to accommodate goods of various thicknesses that may be drawn in between this belt and the lower belt shortly to be described. Pulley 1S is mounted upon a shaft 21, the shaft in turn being mounted in the horizontally disposed end of a bell'crank lever 22, Figures 1 and 8, the lower arm of the lever at its forward end carrying a seam spreader or opener plate 23. Said plate is of a width (see Fig. 3) slightly greater than the belt 15, and is designed to contact the upstanding goods of the seam and to spread the same laterally as it is fed into the press.

The bell crank 22 is fulcrumed upon a cross pin as 24 (Figs. 1 and 4) and as the operator introduces the goods upon which the seam is to be pressed, into the press, this bell crank is rocked rearwardly so that the roller 18 and the opening spreader plate 23 are thrown upwardly. To effect this rockingvmotion any suitable means may be employed. but in the instant case I have shown the bell crank as connected to a pedal 25 through link 26, bell crank 27, draw rod 28, be'll crank 29, and push rod 30, the latter extending to the pedal 25. A spring 31 normally holds the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the roller 18 and the opener plate 23 in their lowered position.

The buck proper is denoted by 32, and, as will be seen upon reference to Fig. 5, is preferably chambered, as at 33, for the introduction of steam or other heating medium, which may be introduced through suitable pipe connections (not shown). The

buck at its rear is secured to a bracketed Slide 34, which is mounted for movement upon and sustained by a column 35 secured to and extending upwardly from the rear portion of the base 1. The bracket is provided in its side walls with elongated openings through which extend rollers 36, the rollers taking against the forward face of the column 35 and being prevented from endwise movement by retainer plates 37 -which overlie the ends of the rollers and are secured to the column. This arrangement affords a support at one end of the buck and allows the buck to be readily raised and lowered. To limit the downward movement of the buck and to hold it in separated relation with reference to the head and likewise in separated relation with reference to a pressure applying element later to be described, any suitable means may be employed, and in Fig. 4 I have shown a stoplug or bar 35 secured to the standard or column 35 and with which the lower end of the bracket contacts when the buck is moved downwardly to the desired degree.

The, buck upon its lower face is formed with a series of lugs 38 adjacent each longitudina'l edge thereof and to which there is secured a guard plate 39. At its forward end the buck is provided with a bracket 40 in which is mounted the roller 41. At the rear of the buck, or more specifically, in the bracket 34, there is mounted a shaft 42 upon which is secured a pulley 43, An endless belt 44 extends around these pulleys, the upper run thereof overlying the buck or the finished plate 45 mounted thereon, while the lower run extends between the lower face of the buck and the guard plate 39 and over and about suitable belt tensioning mecha nism denoted generally by 46 (Fig. 4).

Shaft 42 has secured to it a gear 47 and a shaft 48 upon which vthe pulley 16 is scoured carries a similar gear 49, said gears intermeshing. Shaft 42 also has secured to it a sprocket wheel 50 about which passes a sprocket cha-in 51, the chain in turn passing over a tension idler 52 and about a sprocketv wheel 53 secured upon a shaft 54. Said shaft has secured to its opposite end the shiftable member 55 of a clutch, the opposite element 56 whereof is constantly driven.

vMotion is imparted to this member from an electric motor 57, (Figs. 1 and 2) which drives a worm 58 meshing with a worm wheel 59 secured upon a shaft 60, said shaft in turn having secured to its outer end a gear 61 which meshes with a pinion 62 secured upon one end of a shaft 63, to the opposite end of which is secured the clutch element 56. It wil'l thus be seen that the member 56 is constantly driven, and by bringing the shiftable element 55 of the clutch into Contact therewith, motion will be imparted to the sprocket wheel 53, the sprocket chain 51, and as a consequence to the gears'47 and 49, thereby imparting rotative movement to the shafts 42 and 48 and to the pulleys secured to the said shafts, over which the infeed belts for the seam pass. The direction of rotation is such that the inner adjacent runs of the be'lts pass from the outer end of the machine inwardly, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4.

To effect a shifting of the clutch element, a shipper 64 (Fig. 2) engages the hub element of the shiftable clutch member 55. Said member is secured to the upper end of a` vertically disposed rocking shaft 65, to the lower end of which is secured an outwardly extending arm 66, and to this arm is attached a rod 67 which extends forwardlyy and is connected at its forward end to a clevis 68 pivotally attached to the downwardly extending arm of a bell crank 69 to which a pedal 70 is secured. A spring 71 tends to draw the rod 67 forwardly and to hold the pedal in its elevated position and, through the connection above described, to throw the shiftable clutch element 55 out of'contact with the constantly rotating element 56. It will thus be seen that the operator can by merely depressing the pedal 70, set in motion the connections which will impart movement to the endless conveying belts and cause them to feed or draw the seam inwardly between them and below the head and over the buck in position to have the buck moved upwardly tov press the flattened or spread out seam, it being understood that the plate 23 spreads the seam as itis drawn inwardly.

In operating upon a tubular member of a garment, as for instance a sleeve or trouser leg, it is essential of course that the leg for instance be free to be drawn over the buck, and consequently I have provided a pressure applying device or means, which normally stands away from the buck when the garment element is being positioned thereon. Means is provided for raisin@ this pressing element and automatically bringing it to rest in its raised or pressing position. After sufficient time has elapsed, the mechanism may be again set in motion to lower the pressing element, and it will descend and automatically come to rest in its lowermost position and in spaced relation to the lower portion of the buck.

Secured to the base or bed 1 of the machine are two short vertically disposed columns 72 and 73, each of which carries a pair of horizontally disposed guide rollers 74 and 75, and 74a and 75L respectively.

Mounted for vertical movement between sald rollers is a frame comprising vertically disposed legs 76 and 77 connected by a cross bar or casting 78 having formed in its upper face a series of pockets for the reception of the lower ends of a series of coil springs 79, 80 and 81. The upper ends of these springs pass into similar pockets formed in a pressure applying plate 82, the plate being of a width equal to the width of the buck 32, and when moved upwardly contacting the guard plate 39 and applying upward pressure to the buck through said plate and the lugs 38 which extend downwardly from the buck. 'This pressure applying element, to wit, members 76, 77, 78 and 82, and the springs interposed between the latter members, will move downwardly by gravity. The following mechanism, however, is employed to force it upwardly into contact with the buck and to carry the buck upwardly into pressing relation with the overlying head, and to thereby press the opened seam which at that time is positioned between the belts 15 and 44.

Secured to shaft 60 is a pinion 83 (See more particularly Fig. 2),Y the pinion in turn meshing with a gear 84 secured upon one end of a shaft 85 (see Fig. 5), which latter is supported in a suitable standard as 86. To the inner end of the shaft there is secured a locking disk or member 87 having an aperture 88 formed therein. By reason of the connection thus far described, the disk 87 constantly rotates. A shaft 89, having its reduced end 90 bearing in a socket formed in the shaft 85 and having its opposite end supported in a bearing formed in a standard 91, carries a pinion 92. Said pinion meshes with a gear 93 secured upon a shaft 94, the latter at one end being mounted in the upper end of the support or standard 91, and adjacent its other end in another bearing formed in a support 95. Secured to the shaft 94 is a cam 96, and bearing upon sald .shaft is a flanged roller 97 supported in a bracket 98 extending downwardly from the Vunderside of the cross bar or casting 78.

IVhen a garment has been positioned by the belts between the buck and head, the pressure applying element is moved upwardly, and to effect this upward movement, which is brought about through the action of the cam 96, shafts 85 and 89 are locked together. To this end I employ-the mechanism best shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Secured to the shaft 89 is an arm 100, in the outer end of which is mount-eda sliding bolt 101, the bolt being urged outwardly toward the disk 87 by a spring 102. The bolt is prevented from rotating by a collar 103 formed thereon, thev collar being notched to engage a rib 104 formed upon the arm. The collar is also provided with a stop shoulder 105 adapted to co-act with the shoulder 106 formed upon the outer end of a wiper arm 107. Said arm is provided with a cam face 108, which in certain positions of the parts or when the arm 107 is thrown upwardly into the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6,

will take against the face of the collar 103 and move the bolt endwise, or into its retracted position, or into the position shown in Fig. 5. When released by downward movement of the arm 107, the bolt 101 will be thrown outwardly into engagement with the disk 87, and when the opening 88 Comes into alinement with the bolt, the bolt will be projected into said opening and thereby lock the shafts k85 and 89 together, causing a rotation ofthe cam 96 and a consequent elevation of the pressing element.

The stop arm 107 is actuated through the manipulation of a hand lever 109, positioned at the forward end of the machine in ready grasp of the operator. To the rear end of such hand lever there is attached a draw rod 110, the lower end of which is pivotally secured to one arm of a bell crank lever 111, and from the lower end of the bell crank `there extends a push rod 112, which at its inner endis attached to an arm 113 fixed to the shaft upon which the arm 107 is secured. A spring 114 normally holds the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, with the stop arm 107 upwardly in such position that the boltl 101 is held retracted or-out of locking engagement with the disk 87. Consequently, no motion will be imparted to the cam 96 and the pressure applying element of the buck Will remain at rest.

Assuming that the garment has been proplll?) lll) erly positioned between the belts, and as a consequence between the buck and head, with the parts in the position shown in Figs. l

and 4, the operator may, by merely drawing 107 to move downwardly out of contact with the disk 103, and allow the bolt, when the l opening 88 registers therewith, to come into locking engagement with the disk and as a consequence impart motion to the cam 96, which will move the pressure applying means upwardly into contactl with the buck and carry the latter upwardly into pressing relation with the head and the opened seam which is held between the belts. 1f the handle 109 is released, the shaft 89 will make one complete revolution, and, by reason of the ratio of gearing employed, the cam 96 will make a half revolution; as the shaft 89 nears the completion of its revolution, the cam face 108 on the arm 107 will engage the Collar 103, and as a consequence will retract the bolt, allowing the parts to come to restwith the pressing element in its fully elevated position, thus maintaining the seam under pressure as long as may be desired. Upon again drawing down upon the handle 109,`the latch arm 107 will be withdrawn and the parts go through the same cycle as above described, except that the cam moves to that position where the pressing element is moved downwardly to its lowest position and comes to rest. It will thus be seen that the whole mechanism is under the complete control of the operator, and is easy of operation and manipulation.

To sustain a garmentwhen it is being fed inwardly between the belts, I preferably employ a support extending outwardly from the forward end of the buck. This may take the form of a plate-like member 116 hinged at its inner end to brackets 117 secured to the sides of the buck. A postl 118 fixed to the floor adjacent the machine vextends upwardly and is designed to normally support the outer free end of the garment support 116. To thread a garment on this member 116, all

` that is necessary to do is to lift the outer end of said member, pass the tubular garment element thereon, and then drop said member downwardly on to the upper end of the post. When a garment has thus been positioned upon the support 116, the operator will, by depressing the pedal 25, produce an upward movement of the outer end of the belt 15, carrying with it the spreader plate 23. He will then with his hands open the forward portion of the upstanding parts of the seam, and when such port-ion is introduced slightly into theV machine by pushing the seam forward, the spreader plate 23 will be allowed to drop. The plate 23 thus comes into contact with the opened and laterally spread portion of the seam and will continue to force the upstanding portions laterally and downwardly as the garment element is drawn inwardly by the belts.

From the foregoing it is thought that the operation and manipulation of the machine will be clearly comprehended.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 a slightly modified form of control is illustrated. Under this arrangement the pedal 25 is done away with and a single pedal is utilized to throw in the belt feeding clutch and to lower the infeed guide roll for the uppermost belt, which in this instance is normally held in an elevated position. Parts which are similar to the construction before described have the same numeral applied thereto. In these figures, the roller 18 about which the upper belt 15 passes at the infeed end of the machine, is held in an elevated position so that the seam may be passe-d beneath the same prior to motion being imparted to the belts. The bell crank 22 is connected by a link 26 to a second bell crank 27, from the lower arm of which extends a draw rod 28a, said rod at its lower end passing freely through an arm 120 extending outwardly and formed as a part of a hub 121 mounted for rocking'motion on a shaft 122. Rod 28a at its lower end is provided with a` bolt 123 and a spring 124 encircles the rod, being positioned between the upper face and the arm 120 and a stop collar 125 secured to the rod. Hub 121 is provided with a second arm 126 to which is secured a pedal 127. The hub is also provided with a downwardly extending arm 128 to which is secured a thrust rod 129. Said rod at its forward end passes through an opening in a stand 130 in which the pedal is fulcrumed, and a spring 131 interposed between the stand and the arm 128 tends to draw the rod 129 outwardly or tothe right. The rod at its rear end is connected to an arm 132 secured at its inner end to the shaft to which the clutch shifting yoke 64 is secured. As in the prior construction, this mechanism operates the movable clutch element 55 which, through the spring 131 and the con nections last described, is normally held free of the other clutch element. It will thus be seen that upon depressing the pedal 127, the bell crank levers 22 and 27 will be rocked and the roller 18 moved downwardly carrying the forward porti'on of the upper belt down into position with reference to the underlying belt. At the same time, the clutch element 55 will be moved into driving relation and as a consequence thefbelts will be caused to draw the outfolded seam inwardly between them ready for the pressing operation. To allow the buck to be raised and lowered, the handle, as 109 heretofore described, is employed and it operates in the same manner and through the same connections as is set forth in connection with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. Hence the same reference letters are applied.

It is to be understood that while I have described somewhat in detail the various mechanisms for bringing about the succes-4 sive steps and the causing of the various f parts to function in their proper order and Sequence, in the lbroader aspect of the invention, such `details are not necessary and may be modified.

What is claimed is:

1. In a seam opening and pressing machine, the combination of a pair of relatively moving pressing elements; a spreader for the seam located at the end of one of said elements; a tiltable support therefor; a roller carried by the support; anendless belt passing about said roller, with one run of the belt passing inwardly beneath and along the face of the adjacent pressing element; a second endless belt one ruin whereof passes along the pressing face of the other pressing element; and means under the control of the operator for manipulating the tiltable suport.

p 2. In a seam opening and pressing ma.- chine, the combination of two relatively movable pressing elements; a spreader; a tiltable support therefor located at the end of one of said elements; a roller carried by said support; an endless belt passing about said roller with one run extending along vthe pressing face of the adjacent pressing element; a guide for the belt at the opposite end of said pressing element; means for raising and lowering the guide to vary the position of the belt; a second endless belt, one run whereof passes along the pressin face of the other pressing element; an means for forcing the pressing elements into pressing relation.

3. In a seam opening and pressing machine, the combination of two pressing elements, one of which is'supported from one end only; a pair of conveyor belts with runs thereof extending along the pressing faces of the respective pressing elements; means for varying thek initial space between said runs to accommodate goods of different thickness; and means for forcing the pressing elements into pressing relation.

4. In a seam opening and pressing vmachine, the .combination of two pressing elements one of which is supported from one end only and is movable bodily toward and from the other; and means underlying said movable element and normally spaced therefrom, for moving said movable element into pressing relation to the other.

5. lA press as set forth in claim 4 wherein endless belts are employed to draw a seamed article inwardly between the pressing elements.

6. In a seam opening and pressing machine, the combination of an upper fixed pressing element; a second pressing member underlying the same and being supported at one end by a vertically movable bracket; means for drawing a seamed article inward- 1y between said elements; a pressureapply- 9. In a pressing machine, the combination of a fixed pressing element; a standard arranged adjacent `one end thereof; a bracketlike member mounted for vertical movement thereon; a pressing member extending outwardly therefrom and beneath the fixed pressing member; endless belts, adjacent runs whereof pass along the pressing faces of the pressing elements for drawing the material to be pressed inwardly between said pressing elements; means located at the intake end of the machine for opening the seam to be pressed as it is drawn inwardly; and means for forcing the movable pressing element upwardly into pressing relation with the fixed element.

10. In a seam opening and pressing machine, the combination of a pair of relatively movable pressing elements; a pair of endless conveyor belts passing inwardly between said elements; a spreader plate located at the intake end of the run of said belts; and means for depressing said plate into contact with the seam to be opened.

11. In a seam opening and pressing machine, the combination of a pair ofrelatively movable pressing elements; a pair of endless conveyor belts passing inwardly between said elements; a tilt-able support for the uppermost belt located at the'inta-ke end of the machine; a spreader plate carried by said tiltable support; and means for lower- `ing said tiltable support and thereby carrying the upper belt into working relation with the lower belt. f Y

12. In a seam opening and pressing machine, the combination of a pair of relatively movable pressing elements; a pair of endless conveyor belts passing inwardly between said elements; a tiltable support over which the uppermost belt passes at the intake end of the machine; a spreader plate carried thereby; means for driving the belts; and means under the control of the operator for simultaneously lowering the tiltable support and bringing the belt driving mechanism into operation.

13. In a seam opening and pressing machine, the combination of a pair of relatively movable pressing elements'; a pair of endless conveyor belts passing inwardly between said elements; a tiltable member located at the intake end of the machine and over which the uppermost belt passes; a spreader plate carried by said tiltable member; means for driving the belts; means under the control of the operator for simultaneously lowering the tiltable member and bringing the belts into (zo-operative relation and throwing the belt driving mechanism into operation; means for moving the pressing elements into pressing relation; and means under the control of the operator for throwing sai-d last named means into and out of action.

' In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

HERBERT E. PAGE. 

